How do I control the 5 permitted devices setting in the App Store?

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Level 8

41,235 points

How do I control the 5 permitted devices setting in the App Store?

I have to my knowledge 5 devices registered to my Apple ID.

2011 iMac
2012 16" Macbook Pro
2016 iPad
2012 13" Macbook Pro
2019 14" Macbook Pro M1 Pro

The 2012 13" Macbook Pro I cleaned off and gave to my nephew for university. He is not using my Apple ID.

I am now trying to access my Books on the Macbook Pro M1 Pro, but it won't let me access them saying I must deauthorise one of my computers.

I am lead to the App Store where the only option in Settings is to deauthorise ALL my computers which I certainly do not want to do for fear of losing my purchases or having redownload all of them, when I will not be able to identify what they are if I wipe my account.

Any suggestions?

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 14.1

Posted on Nov 7, 2023 6:49 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Phil0124

Level 10

217,076 points

Nov 7, 2023 7:07 AM in response to PeterBreis0807

There is no way to de-authorize specific computers remotely.

You will need to de-authorize them all, and then authorize the ones you still have access to and want to keep authorized.

De-authorizing does not remove data from any device, nor does it remove purchases from your account in any way.

iPads, iPhones, iPods and Apple TVs do not count toward this limit.

Windows PCs do count toward the limit.

click here ➜ Authorize or deauthorize your computer for iTunes Store purchases - Apple Support

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Answer 2

PeterBreis0807 Author

Level 8

41,235 points

Nov 7, 2023 7:21 AM in response to Phil0124

Thanks for that Phil 😊

I have learnt the hard way to be suspicious of what Apple does with my data.

Yes I do have 3 PCs, but am unaware of which I have authorised. One I no longer use, and another I seldom use.

It would be good to have authorised devices listed so I know how to manage them.

Because of the authorisation problem I could see the books i wanted to access, even update them, but not open them. Books just kept on popping up authorisation sign ins, refusing me access then popping up another, without letting a way out. I had to force quit it.

I'll deauthorise everything now and hope for the best, Apple is curtailing my options with every "upgrade".

Thanks.

P.

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How do I control the 5 permitted devices setting in the App Store?

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